Automatically sealing multi panel sliding door assembly

Abstract

A sliding door system 11 can include a sealing mechanism 40 such that, when a door panel 10, 10 a is slid to a closed configuration 100 , one ore more seal elements 42 are extended to form a seal between the door panel 10, 10 a and it surroundings at the bottom, top and/or sides of the door to reduce or prevent infiltration of gases or liquids such as air or water. Manual or motor driven movement of the door panel 10, 10 a can automatically move an actuation mechanism 50, 50 a to extend the seals around the door. The sealing member 40 can include weather stripping, brush or another seal element 42 that is extended into sealing contact with a floor 6 or other surface. Multiple door panels 10, 10 a including the sealing system can be arranged to form a door panel system 11.

1. A sealable sliding door system comprising:
 a header comprising at least one tilt actuation surface; 
 a lower track parallel to the header; and 
 a door panel slideably moveable along the lower track and the header, the door panel comprising: 
 a first side edge; 
 a second side edge; 
 an upper edge; 
 a lower edge; 
 a panel surface bounded by the first side edge, the second side edge, the upper edge and the lower edge; 
 a lower sealing member movably actuatable with respect to a lower sealing edge of the door panel between a retracted position and a sealed position, the retracted position configured for slideable movement of the door panel along the lower track, the sealed position closing a lower distance between the lower sealing edge of the door panel and a corresponding adjacent surface, wherein the lower sealing edge corresponds to the lower edge of the door panel and the corresponding adjacent surface is a floor surface; 
 an actuator configured to advance the lower sealing member into the sealed position when the door panel reaches a predetermined location corresponding to a closed configuration; and 
 an upper sealing edge comprising at least one door tilting interface configured to interact with the at least one tilt actuation surface, which tilts the door panel in a direction normal to the panel surface to reduce an upper distance between the upper edge of the door panel surface and the header when the door panel reaches the predetermined location corresponding to the closed configuration. 
 
     
     
       2. The sealable sliding door system of  claim 1 , wherein the door panel comprises:
 a first stile corresponding to the first side edge of the door panel; 
 a second stile corresponding to the second side edge of the door panel, 
 an upper rail corresponding to the upper edge of the door panel; 
 a lower rail corresponding to the lower edge of the door panel; and 
 a central area corresponding to the panel surface bounded by the first door stile, the second door stile, the upper rail, and the lower rail, wherein the panel surface faces an exterior of the sliding door system. 
 
     
     
       3. The sealable sliding door system of  claim 1 , wherein linear movement of the door panel with respect to the lower track defines a sliding axis of the door panel, wherein the door panel has a length along the sliding axis, and wherein the lower sealing member has a length that is substantially equal to the length of the door panel. 
     
     
       4. The sealable sliding door system of  claim 1 , wherein the lower sealing member is connected to one or more seal actuation mechanisms comprising at least a three point linkage. 
     
     
       5. The sealable sliding door system of  claim 1 , wherein the lower sealing member is connected to one or more seal actuation mechanisms comprising a scissor mechanism. 
     
     
       6. The sealable sliding door system of  claim 1 , wherein the lower sealing edge corresponds to the lower edge of the door panel and wherein angular movement of the door panel with respect to the lower track defines a tilting axis of the door panel. 
     
     
       7. The sealable sliding door system of  claim 1 , further comprising a second upper sealing edge corresponding to the upper edge of the door panel, the second upper sealing edge configured to reduce a second upper distance between the upper edge of the door panel and the header when the door panel reaches a second predetermined location corresponding to a second closed configuration. 
     
     
       8. The sealable sliding door system of  claim 7 , further comprising a second actuation surface and a second door tilting interface configured to tilt the door panel when the door panel reaches the second predetermined location corresponding to the second closed configuration. 
     
     
       9. The sealable sliding door system of  claim 7 , wherein movement of the door panel in a tilt direction reduces the second upper distance. 
     
     
       10. The sealable sliding door system of  claim 1 , further comprising a seal element disposed between the upper edge of the door panel and the header. 
     
     
       11. The sealable sliding door system of  claim 1 , wherein the door panel further comprises a biasing member configured to bias the lower sealing member into the retracted position. 
     
     
       12. The sealable sliding door system of  claim 1 , further comprising a second door panel slideably moveable along a second lower track and the header. 
     
     
       13. The sealable sliding door system of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator comprises an actuation mechanism with a substantially horizontal transfer member slideably disposed and linearly moveable within or near the lower edge of the door panel, wherein the actuation mechanism is configured to automatically actuate upon contact with an actuation surface. 
     
     
       14. The sealable sliding door system of  claim 13 , wherein the actuation mechanism comprises at least one roller mechanism configured to roll on the actuation surface positioned on the header. 
     
     
       15. A door panel comprising:
 a first door stile defining a first side edge; 
 a second door stile defining a second side edge opposite the first side edge; 
 an upper rail defining an upper edge; 
 a lower rail defining a lower edge; 
 a central area bounded by the first door stile, the second door stile, the upper rail, and the lower rail; 
 an upper tilting mechanism configured to seal the door panel to a header of a door frame, wherein the upper tilting mechanism comprises a door tilting interface on the upper rail and a tilt actuation surface on the header configured to tilt the central area about the lower rail to reduce an upper distance between the upper edge of the door panel and the header when the door panel reaches a predetermined location corresponding to a closed configuration; and 
 a lower sealing mechanism comprising:
 a lower sealing member positioned on the lower rail and movable between a first position in which the lower sealing member is extended downward with respect to the lower rail, and a second position in which the lower sealing member is retracted with respect to the lower rail; and 
 an actuator configured to move the lower sealing member between the first position and the second position. 
 
 
     
     
       16. The door panel of  claim 15 , wherein the actuator comprises an actuation mechanism and a sliding transfer member coupling the actuation mechanism to the lower sealing member. 
     
     
       17. The door panel of  claim 16 , wherein the actuation mechanism comprises a roller mechanism configured to roll on an actuation surface on the door frame. 
     
     
       18. The door panel of  claim 17 , wherein the roller mechanism is rotatably mounted to the upper rail and configured to roll on an actuation surface on the header of the door frame. 
     
     
       19. The door panel of  claim 16 , wherein the transfer member extends through one of the first door stile and the second door stile. 
     
     
       20. The door panel of  claim 15 , wherein the actuator comprises:
 a first roller mechanism mounted to the upper rail and configured to roll on an actuation surface on the header of the door frame; 
 a second roller mechanism mounted to the upper rail and configured to roll on an actuation surface on the header of the door frame; 
 a first transfer member extending through the first door stile and coupling the first roller mechanism to the sealing member; and 
 a second transfer member extending through the second door stile and coupling the second roller mechanism to the sealing member.